Shell-loading machine.



E. c. ATHERTON. SHELL LOADING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. I2. I9I6.

Patented Mar. 12, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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SHELL LOADING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED nus. x2. 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- I i y Wx m\ &\ 1 Ezafl iherian,

EMORY C. ATHERTON, F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

4 SHELL-LOADING MACHINE.

1 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMORY C. Arnnnron;

a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, inthe county of Hennepin and following to be a fulh clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will en ablGQthtlS skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has for its object to provide an improved shell loading machine which may be conveniently operated by foot and includes a novel type of shell holder which is automatically moved forwardly from under the rammer or plunger when the operating foot pedal is released whereby the shells may be conveniently loaded into the holder and removed therefrom, as desired. 7

Another object is the provision of a shell loading machine embodying a novel type of yieldable rammer and recoil spring associated therewith.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter specifically described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the improved shell loader. i

Fig. 2 represents a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 represents a transverse sectional view on the line 33 of l. i

Fig. 4 represents a fragmentary side elevation showing the primer ejecting attachment, partly in section.

Fig. 5 represents an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the shell loader showing the primerinserting attachment in detail.

a c Fig. 6 represents a fragmentary front eleconnections at its rear end with an actuatvation of the loading machine illustrating a part of the primer inserting mechanism applied thereto.

Referrmg to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 10 indicates a table or other suitable support upon which is secured a bed plate 11. having an undercut groove 12 in thetop thereof slidablv receiving the horizontally slidable bar 13 having Application filed August 12, 1916.

Specification of Letters Patent. P t t d Male 12, 191

Serial No. 114,588.

ing chain 14. The chain 14 is extended over a pulley 15 at the rear end of the bed plate 11 and is connected at its lower terminal with a foot pedal 16. A spring 17 is interposed in the chain 14. 'A stop screw 18 is adjustably fitted in a strap 19 fastened to the bed plate 11 and is adapted to be en gaged by an angular arm 20 secured to the slide bar 13 for limiting the rearward sliding movement of the latter. The forward movement of the slide bar 13 is limited by a stop 21 which is secured in position by a screw 22 and is adapted to engage the foot of the standard 24 which latter is bolted as indicated at 25 to the bed plate 11 and straddles the slide bar 13. The slide bar is normally retained in forwardly extended posi tion by means of a spring 26 which is connected at one end with the vertical portion of the stop arm 20 and is connected at its opposite end with the foot 23 of the vertical standard or upright.

The upper section 27 of a vertically movable slide bar is slidably mounted in a channel 0r groove 28 formed in the front face the bar independently of the vertically disposed slide bar.

The vertical slide bar is normally retained in elevated position by, the tension of a coil spring 33 and is adapt ed to be depressed by the foot lever or pedal 16, the movement of the pedal being transmitted to the slide bar by a chain or other flexible connecting element 34. There is sufficient slack in the chain 34 to permit the slide bar 13 to be moved to its rearmost position before the movement of the pedal is transmitted to the vertical slide bar through the chain 34.

A cylinder 35 is bolted in the upper section of the vertical slide bar and the upper and lower ends thereof are closed by caps or heads 36. A plunger or rod 37 is fitted through the lower cap or head 36 and is provided at its upper terminal with a flange or head 38 which is snugly fitted in thebore of the cylinder 35 and is adaptedto reclprocate vertically therein. The lower terminal of the plunger 37 is connected by a coupl ng 39 with a detachable rammer to, A spring ell confined "between the upper'h'ead 36' 'and'the head 38 and normally retains the plunger in downwardly f'extended position;- A recoil spring 42 is 'confined between the lower head 36 and the'plung er-head 38 and V is adapted to absorb the recoil movement of" the plunger aswill be hereinaftermore'fully explaine r a Astopscrew inderhead 36. and is adapted to engage the 7 upper terminal-of the plunger to limit the upwardmovement of thelatter within the cylinder; The lower-cylinder head '36 is formed with an upstanding flange 44 0011 stitutin astoo for thehead of the o'lun i a L V p r lger whereby whe'n the latter is engaged withtlie screw the plungeris rigidly held against movement in the cylinder 7 between the flange 14: and the screw/l3.

The forward extremity of theslide' bar 13 formedwith an internally screw threaded V aperture 45 in which-is detachably securedt-heintegral externally screw threaded stem 16M. the base member 47 of the shell-holder which latter is designated generally by the numeral :8. The upper open end of'the' cylindrical base' members? is formed with a bayonet slot 49 adapted to receive a later? ally projecting pin- 50 carried by the shell holder 51 whereby thelatter is secure'din "operative position in the. base member". 2i cap'52 is detachablysecuredto the upper open endlof the holder 51 and secures a" plurality of spring guard position in the shellholder. v Y I The primer extractingor removing r at-' V .ta'cflnnent'for the' loading machine'is illustratedjin'detail inFig. 4 and it comprises a ,post 54 adapted to be secured in the Opening 45 in theslide bar l3,"subsequent to the re- 7 moval ofthe'base member 47' and carrying an upstandin g.pin '55.' tobe positioned over the post 54, in an invertedposition and the 1311155 engages the primer of the shell; A oylindrical'member 56 is secured to the coupling member. 39 subsequent to the removal ofthe ram1ner40 and The shell is. adapted i is fOrmed-inits lower terminal with a re secured in position upon'the upright or i i cesstT-into which the primer iseje'cted dur- 7 9' ing thedown strokeot 'the'plunger or rod'37,

The primer setting attachment "1601 "the standard 24. The attachingplate 58 carries 1 a horizontally disposedplate 61 under which 7 issecur eda plate 62.. The two plates61 and:

.62 e are formed with vertically alined and internally screw+threaded apertures 63 in which are fitted externally screw threaded sleeves lea having vertically. alined bores 65.

' A slot is form'edbetween the two plates 61 :and 62 and slida-bly receives a stop plate 66' hav ng an' aperture '67 therein adapted to members 53 l in i above and below. the stop plate 66; @The rear fendtheplate '66 is. connected with an angular shell engag1ngme1nber68 which is normally retained in forwardly 7 extended position by the 'tensionfof the spring"69 and r V V s L it is adapted to be, engaged by a shell 70 43 is fitted in the uppercylshown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, to elfect rearward movement of the member '68 and f having .a: recess 72 in the upper terminal thereof. A primer insertingplug 7 3 is deof th e sleeves 64-; V Theshellis-supported in position upon -a post 71 secured in position in theaperture 45 in the slidefibar 13 and tachably secured to the coupling member 39 r subsequent to the. removal of the rammer 40,

r and it i s provided with a reduced extension 714, arranged in vertical l ne and adapted for insert on into the bores 65 1n thesleeves 64L.

5 Inthe operation of the improved shell.

loading machine, it is firstnecessary to eject I or remove the originalprimer and this is accompllshedby ad uSting the screw 43 until the J inner terminal, thereof engages and moves the-heador-fiange 38 of the plunger 37 against the flange 44 of the lower cylinder head 36, thus rigidly securing the plunger in position in the cylinder. The cylindrical member 56 is subsequently inserted in the coupling member 39 and the post 54 is se- -cured in position upon the slide bar l and the shell is placed, i i-inverted position, upon the post 5 1. :The foot pedal 16 is subsequently depressed and the downward movement ofth'e forward extremity thereof efiects I h a rearward movement of the slideplate 13 through the chain 14; and-spring 17 As the slide plate-13f approaches the limit of. its

rearward movementythe slack inithe' chain 3.": is taken up and the slide bar sections 27 "and; 30, together with the :cylinder' 35',

plunger 37 and "cylindri cal member 56 f are moved;- downwardly against'lthe tension of the spring 33,- the cylindrical member 56'' pressingiagainstthe butt "or rearvend of the shell and causing the primerto be removed by-the pin 55. Subsequent to the release of the foot pedal 16 the cylinder 35 and parts associatedv therewith- V are automatically returned to initial position under the influence of the spring33"andtheslide. bar 18' andp o'st i ,Mfare'moved forwardlyjto their initial posi tron under'the influence of the spring26.

V LThe next step isithe insertion or setting;

ofthe new primer Wl110l1 :lSfElCCOmPllShQd by means of the attachments shown in defall in Figs, 5 and S -which are'applied to the parts 0f. theiloadingmachine "as herein-' before described. 111', thisoperation the shell 6 to receive the new primer. ispositionedin an inverted.pos1t1ona1pon the post 71 and the pr mer (not shown) 1s placedin thebore 6505 the upper sleeve M and is stopped by the stop plate ('36.

with the stop plate 66, the aperture 67 in which alines with the bores 65 of the sleeves 6-1 and permits the new primer to fall into position in the aperture in the butt or rear end of the shell 70. Upon further depression of thefoot pedal 16 thcslaclr in the chain 3% is taken up and the slide bar sections 27 and 30, cylinder 1 1 and plug 73 are moved downwardly, the plug is projecting through the bores of the sleeves 6t and forcibly inserting the new primer in position in the shell. When the foot pedal 16 is re leased the parts oi" the machine are returned to initial position under the influence of the springs 26 and 33 and the shell may be removed from the post 71 and a new one to receive a new primer is substituted therefor. The next step in the operation of the machine is the reloading of the shell and this is accomplished by the assistance of the shell holder 48 and rammer 4-0 shown in detail in "Fig, 1.

relation to the base member 4L7 by the pin.

50 which engaged in the bayonet slot 49. The charge of powder and the proper wads are placed in the ring 52 and the foot pedal 16 is depressed thus moving the slide bar 13 rearwardly and subsequently depressing the rammer 4O WlllCllQlltGlS the ring 52 and compresses the powder in the shell and inserts the wads into position in the shell.

VVhatis claimed 1s: 1.. A loading machine comprising a bed plate, a slide bar supported on said bed plate, a foot pedal, yieldable means connecting said foot pedal with said slide bar, a shell holder supportedon said slide bar, a shell loading element associated with said a shell holder, and means normally retaining the shell holder in position forwardly of the loading element.

2. A shell loader comprising a bed plate, a slide bar slidably supported upon said bed plate, a pivoted foot pedal, yieldable means connecting said foot pedal with said slide bar, a shell holder supported on said slide bar and movable therewith, a vertically mov able shell loading element associated with said shell holder, and means connecting said loading element with said pivoted foot -65 pedal 3. A shell loader comprising a bed plate, a slide bar slidably supported upon said bed plate, a pivoted foot pedal, yieldable means connecting said foot pedal with said slide bar, a shell holder supported on said slide bar, a vertically movable rammeradapted l0 enter said holder, and means connecting said rammer with said foot pedal. whereby the rammer is actuated subsequent to the mar stroke of the slide bar and shell holder.

4:. A shell loader comprising a bed plate, a horizontally movable shell holder supported upon said plate, a vertically movable rammer adapted to enter the holder, a pedal, and independent connections between the pedal and holder, and the pedal and the rammer.

5. A shell loader comprising a bed plate, a shell holder movable horizontally over said bed plate, adjustable means for limiting the rearward movement of said shell holder, a vertically movable rammer associated with said shell holder, and means normally retaining said shell holder in forwardly oxtonded position with relation to said ram- 6. A shell loader including a bed plate, a horizontally movable shell holder supported on said bed plate, a standard, a vertically .niovable slide bar supported on said standard, a vertically movable rammer, means yieldably connecting said rammer with said vertically movable bar, means normally retaining said rammer in elevated position, means normally retaining said shell holder in forwardly extended position with relation to said rammer, a pivoted foot pedal, means connecting said foot pedal with said shell holder for moving the latter rearwardly into vertical line with said rammer, and means independent of the last-mentioned connectmally retaining said rammer in downwardly extended position, and spring means in said cylinder for absorbing the recoil movement of said rammer under the influence of the last ment oned means.

8- A shell loader comprising a bed plate,

a shell holder supported on said bed plate. a

standard carried by said bed plate. a vertically movable slide bar supported in said standard, a rammer adapted to enter the upper end of said shell holder, means yieldably connecting said rammer with said verrically movable slide bar, and adjustable grplungen movable in said cylinder, a shell 9. Inwshell'lpadejr, a bed right'snpported upon the bed plate, a yer 1 tical'ly lnovablerslide bar supported in Said Copie of this p at nt may be obtained for lllQELllS ffo r rigidly connecting said raimnen with said slide bar;

-uprigl1t, abylinder carried by Said slide bar,

loading element carriedfby the plunger,

yieldable means. normally retaining the plunger in downwardly extended position, v and lneans to lock the plunger against move- -1nentin the cylinder.

10LII1 a shell leader, a bed mrnp;

7 right carried by the bed plate,a Vertically plate Jen 1 115 lnb'v'ziblel slide bar supported in" said up- -15 bright," w cylinder carried by. said slide bar, a

plunger :ni Yable vertically in said cylinder, 1" shell lo adrng "element: carried by, the

plunger, and yieldabl'e .rnez ins reSisting the upward Or dOWnWardQ n mvem ent" of the 29 plunger in the Cylindenf V I I11 testimony whereofl allixfmyv signature 7 in pre gencero-ftwo Witnesses. V

EMOBY'C. ATHERTON.

witneses:

J. F. :NIGGELER, J GAUBER.

five tents echiby addressing the Gommissibner of Patents; lWa shington,-D.' C. I V r 

